Annual General Meeting 2015 Minutes
7th February 2015, National Shrine of St Jude, Faversham
Opening
Chris Buller
welcomed everyone to the meeting and led everyone in a prayer. He thanked Matt
Betts and Fr Wilfrid McGreal for the hosting and organisation.
In Attendance were:
Matt Betts
Terri Betts
Chris Buller
Louise Child
Margaret Fielding
Simon Gallop
Nicole Gallop-Mildon
Bernadine Gregory
Richard Hargreaves
Anne Hoskins
Ciara Jackson
John Joyce
John Lewis
Merlyn Lewis
Theresa Mahon
Dail Maudsley-Noble
Patrick Maudsley-Noble
Nuala Mellows
Sr. Maureen McNally
Margaret Owen
Hugh Parry
Margaret Parry
Ann Reitchel
Shell Roca
John Sayer
Colette Sharrock
Chris Talbot
Chris Thorpe
Katy Thorpe
Sadie Vile
Dot Wade
Sylvia Walker
Tina Walker
Rebecca Warren-Heys
Sue Woodford
John Wynne-Jones
Mary Wynne-Jones
Secretary’s update
Dail Maudsley-Noble
thanked everyone for a successful pilgrimage last year, before discussing full membership.
She explained that there has been a significant increase in applications –
during the pilgrimage week all application forms that were left in the Acceuil
were taken and over 25 new members were presented with their insignia.
Dail also
spoke of the positive comments that she received regarding the number of young
members that decided to join this year.
She then
asked that if anyone is due to become a full member, to please let her know. 25
people have applied to become full members this year and they should expect to
receive details of a meeting in the first few days of the upcoming pilgrimage,
detailing the process. Information will be circulated a few weeks prior to
travel.
She also
requested that all members please ensure that their contact details are up to
date with her, as Tangney Tours who now print and mail the newsletter have had
quite a few returned because of incorrect details. Dail reiterated a request to
anyone who wishes to receive the newsletter via email, to please let her know,
as this is a simple way for the Hospitalité to save money.
Dail then discussed
the newsletter and thanked members for their input over the past year, as
recent issues have received fantastic feedback. She asked for more ideas and
items for upcoming newsletters, and asked that anyone who would like to discuss
content, please contact her. Dail also made a plea to anyone with photos of
their time in Lourdes and asked if they would be willing to allow her to use
them in the newsletter. If anyone would like to share their photos for use,
please contact her – copyright will be acknowledged.
Next, Dail outlined
the results of the Elected Member election. Christopher Page was elected to
replace Simon Gallop on the Council and Dail passed on Christopher’s thanks to
all those who voted for him.
Chris Buller
thanked Simon for all his hard work during his years of service on the Council.
Finally, Dail
announced that due to unforeseen circumstances she has had to step down as
Secretary. She revealed that Chris Talbot, another candidate for Elected
Member, has agreed to take over the position and asked members to take the
opportunity to speak to him as he was present.
Dail thanked
all the members of the Hospitalité, the Council and the President, Chris
Buller, for all their support over the last three years, and stated that she
was very proud to be a member of the Hospitalité and she will continue to join
the Pilgrimage.
Treasurer’s update: Hugh Parry presented the AGM with the Hospitalité
Accounts.
Hugh
explained that the report will be included in the next issue of the newsletter,
but he circulated an accounts sheet of finances to those present.
Hugh
announced that the fundraising led by Elected Members had not yet begun. He
reiterated that volunteers to help with this will also be sought in the
newsletter, and asked that people do not think of it in terms of amounts of
money, but in terms of what that money is able to do.
The example
of Nuala Mellows and Theresa Mahon was suggested – their efforts in speaking in
their parish were very successful, and lastly, Hugh echoed Dail’s sentiments
asking that anyone who wishes to help by receiving the newsletter via email,
please let him know.
Lourdes 2014 review
Chris Buller thanked
everyone for a successful year and handed over to Ciara Jackson and Matt Betts.
Ciara thanked everyone for their support in her
first year.
Matt reported that the travel went well and said
they were indebted to the flight team and Tangney Tours, however, he stated
that more help with loading at airports is needed.
Matt explained that there were many successes during
the week – leading the Torchlight Procession on Sunday worked well, as did
scheduling the Grotto mass on the Wednesday, and reported that the Youth
Service was once again successful. Matt and Ciara thanked the Trustees for
funding the helpers’ party.
Ciara reported that there were changes made in the
Accueil that worked very well, although the number of new helpers made it
difficult to put teams together.
Matt thanked Chris Talbot for co-ordinating hotel
wheelchairs.
Lourdes 2015
Chris Buller thanked Fr. Tony Lester, who has
resigned as the Chaplain, for all his hard work in developing the role and
announced that Fr. Nicholas King, SJ has agreed to act as his replacement
Chief Brancardier/Chief
Handmaid
Matt Betts announced that his term as Chief
Brancardier is ending this year and he will be replaced by Richard Hargreaves.
Richard will be shadowing the role during the
pilgrimage week.
Ciara thanked Matt for all his hard work in the role
over the past five years.
Matt and Ciara announced that changes have been made
to the prep days – the days will now be solely aimed at brand new helpers to
allow more time to talk to them and arrange DBS checking for new helpers, and
also those who have not travelled with the pilgrimage for the past three years.
Some experienced people will be asked to come and help.
In addition to the prep days, there will be a new
event for team leaders and deputies to explain to them how things work and what
is expected of them to ensure they are prepared for the week. It is hoped that
this will take place in July once the teams are arranged.
The two prep days will take place on 7th
June at Stonyhurst College and on 27th June in Walworth.
Sadie Vile stated that DBS forms for those who won’t
be at a prep day but have and expired form will be arranged in other ways.
Chris Thorpe asked what themes will be covered
during the prep days, particularly the event for team leaders and deputies.
Ciara outlined key themes as the Pilgrimage, Lourdes
itself, a general overview of what we do in hotels and the Accueil and
wheelchair training. She pointed out that there is a fine line between
overloading and enough information to start work on arrival.
Chris Thorpe opined that such meetings should
emphasise the idea of service.
Ciara agreed that is very important and stated that the team leader meeting should help to give emphasis on that, but then it is their responsibility to pass it on to helpers within their team. The idea of service will also be emphasised accordingly elsewhere.
Ciara noted that the number of helpers was reduced
this year and asked if all could encourage anyone who may not have been for a
while, to return.
Matt noted that we especially need people for the
Piscines and to distribute tea and coffee.
Louise Child asked if team leaders could be told in
advance of the team leaders meeting and Matt confirmed that this will happen so
that team leaders will find out their roles earlier.
Matt then invited John Tangney to speak about
travel.
Travel
John Tangney spoke at length about this year’s
pilgrimage – he drew attention to leaflets he had brought along – and stated
that reductions have not been possible as much due to fuel prices, although
they try very hard.
It is hoped that some reductions will be available
next year.
John noted that Ryanair is paid for by Lourdes
airport to compete against Tangney Tours, but as it is paid for by high taxes
and they will not take the sick or those with a disability, it is a problem.
He announced that 2016 will be the 40 year
anniversary of Tangney Tours looking after the Catholic Association Pilgrimage,
so next year, if anyone has been travelling with them for the 40 years they
will be entitled to a 40% discount.
John encouraged members to book early and reported
the following flight information:
Birmingham: midday flight
Stansted: there will be two flights, 10am and 11am,
and the second flight will be the main sick flight
Southampton: 4pm flight and this is already popular,
with 80 or 90 people already booked
John also apologised for the late departure of the
Manchester flight last year.
Chief Nurse
Theresa Mahon
reported that she sent applications forms to nurses a week ago and has already
received 18 applications, which is very positive.
She is aiming for 30 nurses and is working hard to achieve that.
Chief Medical Officer
Nuala Mellows asked for more doctors and made a plea
for more APs.
She stated that parishes are very supportive if we
go to them and there are funds available to help financially if necessary, but
we must make that personal approach.
Any other business
Nicole
Gallop-Mildon announced that the Trustees have appointed a deputy leader of HCP
– Steve Drake. Once he has completed a year in the post, a successor will be
determined so that she and Simon Gallop can resign the post and Steve can take
over as leader.
It was noted
that there is a mistake in the pilgrimage brochure – a child aged 16 can still
join HCP, but the brochure incorrectly states the age limit as 15.
Sadie Vile commented that the Young
Helpers group will now accept helpers from age 16 after David and Judy Ball
have spoken to other youth groups.
Recruitment will include 16 year olds
but those people who are only 16 and new 17 year olds will follow a programme
similar to that of other youth groups with no work in the Accueil or rolling,
but David and Judy Ball have knowledge of alternative activities.
The large age
range for the Youth Group has led David and Judy Ball to ask John Tangney if he
can identify an alternative hotel for older helpers, as some in the older age
group were not happy with a curfew and requested more
independence.
The application process, accommodation and travel cost will
remain the same, but accommodation will be different.
The Trustees have approved the idea.
Nicole Gallop-Mildon queried if there
is a plan to identify the lower age group of Youth Helpers vs 16 year olds in
HCP. Sadie Vile agreed to discuss with David and Judy Ball.
Matt Betts offered to contact the
clothing supplier with regard to a polo shirt in a different colour if
necessary.
Mary Wynne-Jones asked if anything
could be done to identify helpers that can assist with tasks such as toilet
trips in the underground Basilica. Ciara Jackson replied that this will be
addressed at the team leader training day.
Sadie Vile commented that the Trustees
have no firm views on the matter.
